Why Is Mod Furniture so Expensive?

If you’re into modern or “midcentury” furniture you’ve probably been exposed to some sticker shock when trying to get your hands on it, and perhaps wondered what makes something so pricey when it's a) not an antique, b) not rare or c) made of expensive materials.</br></br>The answers to this are many, but basically boil down to the same two things that determine the price for most any good: supply and demand.</br></br><strong>Demand</strong></br></br>Midcentury furniture is enjoying a rebound in popularity at the moment. One could argue it never really fell out of favor for many folks, but growing demand for European and vintage furniture design is giving a boost to the modern look.</br></br>But, <em>why</em> is there more demand? That’s a great question. Some ideas circulating in the design world include the trend toward minimalist styles following the Great Recession and the familiar circular nature of style resurgence.</br></br>Then there are the pop-culture references that are making mod cool again. Take the television show <em>Mad Men</em>, for example: It’s impossible to say how much chrome and teak has been sold thanks to Don Draper and Co., but the smart bet is that it’s significant.</br></br>Finally, furniture styles – or <em>periods</em> – are more resilient than styles in other mediums like clothing, film and music, and this is also helpful in explaining why you really like that <a title="Modern Coffee Tables" href="http://www.atgstores.com/coffee-tables_1021.html?atb=attr_style=|modern|" target="_blank">coffee table</a> that looks like something your mother may have had in her college years.</br></br><strong>Supply</strong></br></br>In the art world, supply is a factor in what determines exclusivity, and exclusivity has a way of raising the price of things; particularly when that thing is produced by an artist in demand.</br></br>The same can be said of the kind of furniture that defines the midcentury period. There are many designs that still stand as hallmarks of midcentury style, from <a href="http://www.atgstores.com/collections/Modway-Le-Corbusier-Collection_c93649.html">Le Corbusier chairs</a> to <a href="http://www.atgstores.com/collections/Stilnovo-USA-Noguchi-Collection_c118215.html">Noguchi coffee tables</a>. These and other examples have become so iconic that their reproductions are celebrated as collections – and produced in a quantity that gives them a more appealing price point.</br></br><strong>Knockoffs vs. Collections</strong></br></br>Telling the difference between a furniture knockoff and a quality reproduction is usually fairly simple: A knockoff will nowhere mention the design inspiration. This is because no agreements have been made as to the rights of the designer or the manufacturer.</br></br>Collections, on the other hand, trumpet the designer name because permissions have been granted and it’s a strong selling point. Keep your eyes peeled for these and you might be surprised at how much you can save over boutique prices.